Frac"ture (?; 135), n. [L.
fractura, fr. frangere, fractum, to break: cf.
F. fracture. See Fraction.] 1. The
act of breaking or snapping asunder; rupture; breach.
2. (Surg.) The breaking of a
bone.
3. (Min.) The texture of a freshly
broken surface; as, a compact fracture; an even, hackly, or
conchoidal fracture.
Comminuted fracture (Surg.), a
fracture in which the bone is broken into several parts. --
Complicated fracture (Surg.), a fracture
of the bone combined with the lesion of some artery, nervous trunk,
or joint. -- Compound fracture (Surg.),
a fracture in which there is an open wound from the surface down
to the fracture. -- Simple fracture
(Surg.), a fracture in which the bone only is ruptured. It
does not communicate with the surface by an open wound.
Syn. -- Fracture, Rupture. These words denote
different kinds of breaking, according to the objects to which
they are applied. Fracture is applied to hard substances; as,
the fracture of a bone. Rupture is oftener applied to
soft substances; as, the rupture of a blood vessel. It is also
used figuratively. "To be an enemy and once to have been a friend,
does it not embitter the rupture?" South.
Frac"ture (?; 135), v. t. [imp.
& p. p. Fractured (#; 135); p. pr. & vb.
n.. Fracturing.] [Cf. F. fracturer.] To
cause a fracture or fractures in; to break; to burst asunder; to
crack; to separate the continuous parts of; as, to fracture a
bone; to fracture the skull.
